A construction worker and a poultry farmer were remanded to prison yesterday after they were accused of attempting to murder a taxi driver.
Ernes James, 25, and Linden Flavius, 31, were read the attempted murder charge by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. It is alleged that the duo on July 11th at the John Fernandes Squatting Area, with intent to commit murder, wounded Dereck Benson.
Neither James, of 179 Old Road, Eccles, East Bank Demerara nor Flavius, of Agricola, was required to plead to the indictable offence.
Police prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the court that on the day in question, the complainant was operating a taxi when the two accused entered his vehicle and requested to be taken to West Back Road. During the journey, the prosecutor said, Flavius held a gun to Benson while James, armed with an icepick, stabbed Benson several times about his body and relieved him of his cash and jewellery. Benson later crashed his vehicle into a plank and the duo made good their escape, leaving the wounded man behind.
Benson was later rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he remains a patient. Based on information received, the defendants were later arrested and positively identified.
Attorney Adrian Thompson, who represented James, requested bail on his client’s behalf. He said that his client has no knowledge of the crime nor does he know the complainant. According to Thompson, there was CCTV footage that captured the incident but his client is nowhere on the footage.
Despite the attorney’s request, bail was denied for both accused and the matter adjourned until August 6th.
Meanwhile, in the courtroom of Magistrate Faith McGusty, Flavius was read two armed robbery charges.
The first charge alleged that on July 10th at Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Ramsarran Ramsook of a phone valued at $78,000 and $140,000 in cash.
It was further alleged that on July 10th at Georgetown, while being in the company of another and armed with a gun, Flavius robbed Hallen Shaw of a bag containing clothing valued $22,000 and $11,000.
Prosecutor Annalisa Brummell objected to bail being granted, citing the fact that a dangerous weapon was used. Brummel also said that Flavius was positively identified by both complainants via an identification parade.
Flavius was subsequently remanded to prison and the matter adjourned until July 31st, 2019.
